This was a deep, deep pit—almost like a natural underground cavern.
Its entrance wasn't large, tucked neatly within a patch of thick green foliage. Unless one looked carefully, it would be nearly impossible to notice its existence.
The cavern walls were covered in a plant resembling bluish moss. The deeper the cave went, the denser the moss grew, spreading far down into the darkness.
Standing at the edge, one could clearly hear the sound of the wind howling upward from below.
Seeing this, Hayato's expression turned a little strange.
Raikou's luck is really rotten…
"I think we need to go down and take a look," he said.
Entei and Suicune naturally had no objections.
They lowered themselves, signaling Hayato to climb on, and then leapt straight down into the cavern.
Hayato was startled by the sudden action. From this height, just jumping straight down—was that really okay?
Entei and Suicune quickly gave their answer.
Clutching tightly to Entei's neck, Hayato felt the rush of air screaming past his ears. The scenery blurred as it shifted rapidly around him, and when he finally gathered his wits, Entei had already landed solidly on the cavern floor.
Not a hint of discomfort showed on its face.
Hayato: "..."
Alright. He had overthought things.
A shaft of sunlight pierced down from the entrance above, illuminating the chamber below and allowing Hayato to take in the full scope of the cavern.
It wasn't as massive as he had imagined, nor was it riddled with endless winding tunnels. There was only a narrow fissure in the rock face to the left.
From within, faint dripping water could be heard, but the gap was far too small for any large creature to squeeze through.
The surrounding rock walls were smooth, while damp ground allowed thick moss to flourish across the floor.
And there—Raikou lay motionless upon that moss, eyes shut tight. Even in unconsciousness, its face twisted in agony from the poison wracking its body.
Beside Raikou crouched a bipedal, canine-shaped Pokémon.
Its fur was blue and black, with short spikes jutting from the backs of its forepaws and its chest. When Hayato's eyes met its gaze, the Pokémon returned a calm, silent look.
That was… Lucario.
Hayato's gaze dropped slightly, immediately catching the rough wooden necklace hanging from Lucario's neck.
The carving was crude, but unmistakably shaped into a small Riolu.
In Hayato's mind flashed the words of the old man he had encountered earlier. But now was not the time to bring that up.
He hurried to Raikou's side, pulling antidotes and healing medicine from his pack to treat the poisoned beast.
Yet even after administering the medicine, Raikou showed no sign of waking.
While it slept, Hayato couldn't resist sneaking a hand across its sleek, soft fur.
Entei and Suicune, blocked by Hayato's body, didn't notice. But lurking in the shadows, Marshadow saw everything.
When Hayato looked up, he found Marshadow staring at him with an unblinking, ghostly gaze.
Hayato: "..."Marshadow: "..."
Their eyes met. Without a word, Marshadow sank quietly back into the shadows.
Hayato turned his head away with a perfectly calm face.
Confirming with his ability that the poison had been purged, Hayato shifted his focus to the silent Lucario with the wooden necklace.
Lucario stood quietly off to the side, watching everything in silence.
"I've met your Trainer before," Hayato said softly. "He's been looking for you."
Wild Lucario were exceedingly rare. And with that wooden necklace, there was no mistaking it—this Lucario must be the old man's Pokémon.
Judging by Lucario's condition and the peculiar nature of this cavern, Hayato had a good guess why it hadn't returned: just like Raikou, it must have accidentally fallen into this place and couldn't climb back out.
Sure enough, Lucario's reaction confirmed it.
At Hayato's words, the previously silent Pokémon suddenly lifted its head, eyes sharp with surprise.
"He thought you left him," Hayato continued. "He asked me, if I ever met you, to deliver his apology…"
As Hayato spoke, he watched Lucario closely. Its expression grew darker with every word, until it lowered its head to gaze at the herbs in its paw.
Hayato followed its gaze, and at once, information floated into his mind:
[Warm Moss: A mystical herb that can heal bruises and injuries. Wild Pokémon often use it to treat themselves when wounded.]
Hayato: "..."
So Lucario must have seen the old man's injured leg… and had left without a word, searching for herbs to help him?
It made perfect sense.
Lucario's kind were often stoic, silently dedicated. Once bonded with a Trainer, they would never betray them, not even at the cost of their own life.
Of course Lucario would do something like this.
"Sigh…"
Hayato exhaled quietly. There was no need to explain further. Once Raikou awoke, he would escort both Pokémon out.
And when the old man saw the herbs Lucario carried back, he would understand everything.
Still, Hayato doubted Lucario would ever tell its Trainer about falling into the pit and being unable to climb out.
After a moment's thought, he pulled paper and pen from his pack, scribbled down the truth of the situation, and handed it to Lucario.
"Take this to your Trainer," he said.
He wasn't worried Lucario would read it—unlike Gengar or Slowking, it couldn't understand human writing.
The bodies of the three Legendary Beasts had all been blessed by Ho-Oh, and so their recovery was extraordinary.
No sooner had Hayato handed the note to Lucario than Raikou stirred, its eyes snapping open as it rose to its feet.
At once, all eyes turned to it.
Perfect timing.
"Looks like we can leave now," Hayato said to Entei and Suicune.
But this cavern was deep. Climbing out would be no easy task.
Hayato was about to call on Gengar's levitation through its Poké Ball, but before he could speak, both Entei and Suicune turned their gaze toward Raikou.
Raikou said nothing.
A moment later, its body crackled with powerful electricity. A massive thundercloud swirled into being beneath its feet.
Entei glanced at Hayato, signaling him to climb on, while Suicune beckoned Lucario to join them.
Once Hayato was settled, Entei and Suicune leapt onto the thundercloud.
And then, something miraculous happened.
The thundercloud, as if alive, rose steadily upward toward the light above.
Hayato could only stare, dumbfounded.
The three Legendary Beasts… could fly.
(End of Chapter)